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Welcome to A Soldiers Thoughts from the Second World War Webpage.
This text is mainly excerpted from the 23rd Battalion Official History Chapter 12 & 13 with incerpts by myself from conversations with my father.
Ross, Angus. Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War
1939-45: 23 Battalion. Wellington, New Zealand. War History Branch,
Department of Internal Affairs. 1959. pp 276-343.
In the interests of speed in the pages loading, I have put the pictures on a seperate page.
Ian joined as Ack-Ack Platoon in 1st Btn NZ (North Island) Scottish Regiment on 10 Jan '41. During training he sustained a broken shoulder in a truck accident, so it wasn't until the winter of '42 that he returned to the Army and volunteered for the 8th Reinforcements in training near Paekakiriki. Here he met up with a school-mate from Milton, Cam Wilson and Cam's friend Eric Bisset. The 8th Reinforcements finally sailed on SS Aquitania (12 Dec '42) for Egypt, arriving in Maadi camp early Jan '43.
The three joined the "Sigs" as Cam was a NZ Post Office technician prior to enlistment. The old Post Office hands had a short course then moved up the desert to join the Division near Tunisia on the last leg of chasing the Germans out of Africa. Cam went to the Tunisian campaign by a dirty old French "tramp" steamer to Tripoli, assigned to 23 Battalion, D Company HQ and saw his first action at Enfidaville where the Germans were holed up in the mountains. With the British 8th Army on one side, the Anglo-American 1st Army on the other and 2NZEF in front they were trapped, and after firing off all their ammo surrendered. Eventually the Kiwis returned to Maadi via Tripoli. Ian and the other inexperienced types stayed on, for about another 3 months training at the school and then waited for the Division to return. With Ian's training completed he requested to be assigned to the same unit - the 23rd Battalion.
The summer of 1943 was spent in comparative luxury in Maadi Camp. A fortnight's leave to Cairo, Alexandria or Palestine was taken, according to a roster drawn up in each company, by all ranks in June and early July. It was the Army leave camp in Palestine for Ian. Men from the 9th and 10th Reinforcements arrived to bring the unit up to establishment. Ian was promoted to Temporary Lance Corporal instructor. All N.Z. servicemen dropped their rank on leaving for overseas and had to win it again over there. Ian was officially an old hand while they were "green". His group contained an ex Sergeant Major and other N.C.O.'s who knew more than he did, but all got along. At the completion of this instruction, Ian reverted to Private.
23 Battalion was part of the NZ 5 Infantry Brigade. The other Battalions making up 5 brigade were 21 Battalion and 28 (Maori) Battalion. Each of these Battalions gained a reputation among both Allied and Axis (enemy) forces alike as a force to be reckoned with, and General von Senger, the German 14 Corps commander who controlled the Cassino area, years later singled out the NZ forces battle skills for praise (at a Sandhurst study of the battle).
23 battalion was a South Island unit consisting of 35 officers and 741 'other ranks' (when up to full strength). They were divided into 4 companies A, B, C, D, and Battalion Headquarters. Each company was further divided into Company HQ's and 3 platoons of about 30 men which were further divided into 3 sections. A Company consisted of 7, 8 & 9 Platoons, B Coy had 10, 11, & 12 Platoons, C Coy had 13, 14, & 15 Platoons, and D Coy had 16, 17, & 18 Platoons. 17 Platoon was commanded by 2nd Lt Wilson, 18 Platoon by 2nd Lt Hanrahan.
D Company H.Q. consisted of the C.O., initially Major Angus Ross. He had been a History Prof. at Otago University and following the war authored the 23rd Battalion history. Around Xmas '43, Captain Slee took over & was promoted to Major. The Coy Sgt Major changed also & Cyril McIntosh took over before Jittery Ridge. The C.O.'s batman, Graham French (Bambino), an R.A.P. man (first aid) and the 3 sigs completed Coy H.Q. with also a runner from each platoon. Ian Muldrew was one of these runners, he spent his time between Battalion HQ, D Company HQ, and 18 Platoon.
photo of D Company HQ
Of the sigs Colin Campbell was senior & carried and was mainly responsible for the No. 48 radio set:- a full back pack load for communication back to battalion H.Q., Cam carried the field telephone & Ian carried a walkie-talkie radio forward to the platoons. This set was haversack style with battery in another haversack which went flat quickly without notice. The microphone fitted round the throat & the C.O. wore one also & could plug in when required. Of course we each used each instrument when needed. Main communication to Btn. was by phone - being more secure and reliable. The lines were brought up from Btn. H.Q. & when in one place for long, phones forward to the platoons also using captured German phones. When on the move and in Cassino where phone lines could not be maintained, the radios were used. Code words where set for certain sectors ahead of our front line so that a stonk could be quickly called if needed & it usually arrived in 2 - 3 minutes. The C.O. was always referred to as "Niner". Induction from one phone line to another often ocurred so messages were guarded (in code).
Back at Nahdi there was the occasional trip into the desert on manouvers or a navigation exercise which provided a little entertainment, like the night run to find a peg put out during the day. After an hour or so ride they spread out from the jeep but didn't find the peg until they started to move off. It was under the jeep. Then the man who woke up to find a snake asleep on his chest. There was an area of desert covered with small stones and every stone covered with large snails, each sealed down tight until the rains enlivened the desert again. The flies, whoppers, everywhere all the time.
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